By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to express his “deep concern” over the consequences of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza because of the blockade imposed on Gaza for the last two weeks.
“He strongly urged the prime minister to facilitate the freer movement of urgently needed humanitarian supplies and of concerned United Nations personnel into Gaza,” Ban’s press office said in a statement Tuesday.
It added that although Olmert denounced the continuing rocket attacks into Israel from Gaza, he agreed to “look seriously into the urgent matter” raised by the Secretary-General.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on Tuesday drew attention to what it called “unprecedented levels of hardship” in Gaza.
It said mothers were being turned away from UNRWA food centres without powdered milk for their babies, while the agency had been unable to get supplies in, even for blind children.